FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Courtney Hall
Retail Strategies
chall@retailstrategies.com
BIRMINGHAM, AL (January 28, 2025) – Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies specializing in downtown revitalization, announces its partnership with the Village of Tolono, Illinois to accelerate the transformation of its downtown district. This collaboration builds upon significant infrastructure investments made by the village in 2024 and represents the next phase in Tolono’s comprehensive downtown renewal effort.
“With our recent infrastructure improvements laying the groundwork, we’re ready to take the next strategic step in building a new downtown,” said Jared Robbins, Village Trustee. “Our partnership with Downtown Strategies will help us capitalize on these investments and create a vibrant downtown destination driving foot traffic to the area.”
“Our partnership with Downtown Strategies will help us capitalize on these investments and create a vibrant downtown destination driving foot traffic to the area.”
Jared Robbins, Village of Tolono Trustee
The Village of Tolono demonstrated its commitment to downtown revitalization in 2024 by completing infrastructure updates throughout the downtown area. These improvements have set the stage for new development and redevelopment opportunities for new retail and restaurant businesses.
“Tolono’s proactive approach to downtown development, evidenced by their recent capital investments, makes them an ideal partner,” said John Tiedt, Director of Community Partnerships for Retail Strategies. “We’re excited to help the village build upon this momentum and create a strategic framework that will guide the transformation of their downtown into a thriving community hub.”
Through this partnership, Downtown Strategies will conduct a Strategic Visioning Workshop to gather input from local stakeholders and business owners. This collaborative approach, combined with comprehensive market analysis and data-driven insights, will inform the development of a custom five-year strategic plan focused on downtown transformation.
The strategic plan will prioritize initiatives that complement recent infrastructure improvements and align with the village’s vision for a new downtown. This includes strategies for business recruitment, public space activation, and economic development opportunities that will help establish downtown Tolono as a distinctive destination within Champaign County.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team with unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities pay a return in sales taxes, added jobs, and businesses that enhance and add to the unique qualities of your community.
